Tom Thibodeau stews over controversial Knicks call: ‘Big play’

HOUSTON — Tom Thibodeau felt his team was again screwed by a call in Houston.

This time, though, the play was less consequential. 

After his team struggled down the stretch of Monday’s 109-97 loss to the Rockets, the Knicks coach multiple times brought up a foul called on Josh Hart with 2:45 remaining and a three-point deficit. 

Hart was whistled for running into Rockets center Alperen Sengun to retrieve an offensive rebound. 

“I thought the big play was Josh’s foul. It looked like a clean steal to me. Sometimes, it goes your way; sometimes, it doesn’t,” Thibodeau said, adding in his next answer, “I thought Josh beat him to the ball. It just didn’t go our way, I guess.” 

The problem with harping on that call is that Thibodeau had a challenge that he didn’t use, and the Rockets committed a shot clock violation after the foul, meaning it really only took 14 seconds off the clock.